Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘Why Pray?’

Day 1: 2 Chronicles 7:14, 15 – “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.”

Day 2: Hebrews 11:6 – “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

Day 3: Psalms 116:1, 2 – “I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!”

Day 4: Colossians 4:2 – “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Day 5: James 5:13-16 – “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

Day 6: Philippians 4:6, 7 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Day 7: 1 Timothy 2:1-4 – “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Deception vs Truth

I’m sure that in each of our lifetimes, we have all been deceived by someone or something. As children, we are told the seemingly innocent stories of where our baby teeth go, and alternative meanings of Christmas and Easter and their characters. As we grow, we learn very quickly that life will hand us truths, lies, and whatever may be in between. Hopefully, along the way we will be surrounded by people that can and will help us navigate a sometimes confusing labyrinth of choices. Regardless of our age or experience, each new day will bring new threats of deception, and yes we will all have times of failing and falling for the next line.

This past week I experienced this first hand. The use and reliance on modern technology and social media makes us, and made me, vulnerable. What I thought was credible information, turned out to be inaccurate. I discovered to my embarrassment that what I had shared in my excitement, was false. Fortunately, my misstep caused no untoward damage. The lesson learned was to proceed with caution, always.

As we mark remembrance of the crucifixion of our Savior Jesus Christ, and celebrate His resurrection, I encourage everyone to believe and know that this is absolutely fact.  To see these facts, please read Luke 23-24 in your own Bible. These events are described and detailed in the most credible history book ever written and are believed by the majority of the people who live and who have lived, on our planet. The details were written as given by eyewitnesses. They occurred at a time in history when truth was not tainted by population, popularity, social media or even self-wanting of fame. They were written so that future generations would learn and know that it really happened.

These days, with all of the knowledge that our world has available to us, we are presented with a constant battle, between science and faith, what is seen, and what is believed, and between a big bang theory and the existence of God. Arguments on either side will continue well beyond life as we know it. Today is also a time in history when we need God more than ever. Our world is in turmoil, and the human race needs hope. We need to reflect on what Jesus did for all mankind. We need to spread His message of unadulterated love and sacrifice. We need to have faith in the truth, His truth, so we can be protected from the biggest deception of all. That deception, is the notion that what we see, is all there is, and that we don’t need God. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

The Final Covenant

I want to draw your attention to the Perfect Promise, the Holy Handshake, the absoluteness of His Word.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deut 31:6

Old Testament promise that He will never leave. I have heard that promise and yet I have questioned some occasions. My grandparents told me that they would never leave me and yet when they passed I had a tough time forgiving them for leaving me. Friends have come and gone, some passed away and some just disappeared. Promises broken and trust damaged. How do we learn to trust again when a loved one or a trusted friend leaves and breaks their solemn oath?

…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:20

Jesus said these words at the end of His ministry. A short time later, He hung on a cross, battered and bruised, teetering on the brink of death. Then it happened; He died. In the eyes of those who followed Him, trusted Him, they were disappointed and even let down. They dispersed from the area and, I dare say, felt very dejected and betrayed. The promise was broken and their Messiah was gone.

Many look to the cross as the ultimate symbol of the Covenant but this Sunday, I want to explore the something different. What if the symbol of the Christ’s Covenant was actually the empty tomb? Jesus died but by overcoming the grave and declaring the fulfillment of His promise, He has sealed the promise with His Holy return. We invite you to join us this Sunday either in person or online to celebrate Christ’s glorious triumph over death. Services start at 10:30 MST and can be seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/) or viewed afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Eagerly Awaiting

I'm not really sure how many people will get this comparison that's about to follow but I hope you will as you read on; especially when you consider the spiritual value of the message it contains. No doubt those who remember the last few wars will remember this.

How often did the soldiers and their loved ones eagerly await news of each other’s wellbeing via a letter? There used to be a TV show called “As Time Goes By' produced by the BBC. The premise of the show is about two former people meeting up again randomly many years later after WW1. Unfortunately, a letter gone missing was the cause of them not connecting after the war ended. No doubt this happened to lots of people.

Thankfully there is a book of letters that have not gone missing for better than 2000 years! It is our Fathers love letter to us eagerly awaiting to tell us the Good News and eagerly awaiting our response! It can be found just about anywhere. Motels, hotels, bookstores and of course any church building. Better yet, read aloud for yourself what God said in Psalm 40:10 NKJV:

I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your loving kindness and Your truth

from the great assembly 

....and what His Son Jesus said in John 5:39 AMP:

You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me;

John Spicer

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Victory In Jesus

In a celebration marked for kings, Jesus entered the gates of Jerusalem to the shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David” and people laying their cloaks and palm fronds on the ground in front of Him. As He entered the gates, the crowd proclaimed Him, by their actions, the King of kings. Their joy was overwhelming and their declaration pure and boisterous. Kings had entered the church declaring their power and appointment with the trumpets of the army blaring and flags waving but this was not the case here. Christ came through the gate on a donkey colt and the ordinary people trumpeted His arrival and waved palm fronds and prepared His way with their own cloaks. It was not a parade that was forced such as times when the king was not well liked and the people were made to attend but rather it was a gathering of the common people coming from everywhere in the city to celebrate. They had muckled onto Christ and He was their salvation.

I have heard so many people describe their encounter with Christ, their conversion experience, as a time of overwhelming joy. They wanted to cry out from the rooftop that they had met the Saviour. For many, the joy overcomes them and they have to tell everyone that the King is come and there is victory in Him. Jesus did not force His way into their hearts, they heard His call and responded by opening their hearts to Him. A week after Christ came into the town, He was brought back but this time under guard and beaten to within an inch of His life. The same people who cheered Him into the city, now jeered Him as He carried His cross out of the city on to Golgotha. What was once an adoring crowd had become an angry mob – what a huge change! Yet through it all, Christ maintained His focus, He claimed us all when He called out to the Father “forgive them for they know not what they do”.

Is it time to reclaim the joy, to cry from the rooftop that Christ is King and that there is victory in Jesus? He has declared us to the Father, interceded on our behalf. There is an incredible and joyous message in this declaration. There are so many out there who have run away from the Message over the centuries and who even jeer the followers of Christ yet His message is still there for any who will declare Christ as Saviour – “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”.

This week we welcome Dr. Dahl as he brings us the Sunday message “The Wonder of God’s Love for Me”. We invite you to join us this Sunday either in person or online. Services start at 10:30 MST and can be seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/) or viewed afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘Gossiping’

Day 1: Ephesians 4:29 – “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Day 2: James 1:26 – “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.”

Day 3: Proverbs 11:13 – “A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.”

Day 4: James 4:11 – “Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.”

Day 5: Proverbs 16:28 – “A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.”

Day 6: Proverbs 26:20 – “Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.”

Day 7: Psalm 141:3 – “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Speaking of Savings

Are you saved? Have you saved? Do you have savings? Have you ever saved anything? These questions may seem odd on the surface, but this past week as we adjusted our clocks to somehow save an hour of daylight, it occurred to me that we always seem to be trying to save something. Personally, I have saved things that are dear to me, such as small gifts from my children, photos and mementoes from vacations, coins, and even a flower from my father’s funeral. These all remind me of a personal physical connection to those I love, and places I have been. We all try and save money for a rainy day, or retirement, and these days that is a most difficult thing to do. We do this to try and somehow secure our future and to make life a bit easier as we get older.

Well, saving of anything must be pretty important as even Jesus does it. I’m sure we’ve all heard the term “Jesus saves”. What this translates into is that when we come to a place in our heart where we accept Him as our Savior, believe that He is the Son of God, learn about and follow Him, then we are on the path to being with Him for eternity in Heaven. We will soon be remembering His sacrifice of himself on the cross for us, and celebrating His resurrection. Although the date is inaccurate, the most important thing is that we remember and acknowledge that his body died so we could live.

Now to many people who do not know Him, or of Him, this concept is abstract and not understood. We as faithful followers must be careful when using terms such as “ I am saved, or are you saved”. The first time I was asked that I didn’t understand the question. What I do understand is that saving something precious to us for our future makes sense to us a people. Well, Jesus, who is God in flesh form, was sent to live among us and die for us. He did this for all of our “sins”, or things we do and get wrong.

In short, all of us represent in our understanding, the coins, stamps, photos, and flowers of our lives that He wants so much to save and keep with Him for the future, our eternity. So, are you saved? In one sense, yes, in another sense we need to work on that. We must be worth the world to Him, as He is investing so much into saving all of us.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘GOD’s Love’

Day 1: 1 John 3:1 – “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.”

Day 2: John 1:12 – “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Day 3: James 1:17 – “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”

Day 4: 1 Corinthians 8:6 – “But for us, there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.”

Day 5: Romans 8:38, 39 – “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Day 6: 1 Corinthians 2:9 – “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Day 7: John 3:16 – “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Never Run Out Of Ink

         

Last Sunday, our pastor, reflected on the many elements of involvement in ministry. It was a very honest message of how the pastor need not be involved with every little aspect of church. She took time to remind us all of the many gifts that we use to further God’s kingdom, and also edified the many hands that work in the fields. She encouraged everyone to keep doing what they do, and the glory always be given to God.   As I write each week of how God is ever-present, and always shows Himself in our lives, she told me to never let my ink run dry.

           

What she was telling all of us was to never allow our love and passion for sharing Jesus to fall away. We are to use every opportunity to share Him, introduce Him, edify Him, and to keep Him in every fiber of our lives. We should want to keep learning about Him, and to show Him to others by the way we conduct our lives. We must allow Him to live through us. Whether you offer a kind word, a favor for a friend or stranger, a listening ear and heart, He is who others should always see when they look at you. From the many who greet at the door at a church service, to those in front of or behind the scenes, God wants only that we honor Him in the service we give for others. He is simply asking that we use the talents He has instilled in us to be shared with those who we come in contact with. He wishes us to be in love with Him, as we are with our mates, unending, and growing each day.

     

If this is speaking to you, then I am confident that He is getting through. He cares not about your bank account, your clothes, your past, or your failures. He wants to remind us that he adores you, and He adores me. He knows that Satan wants you, but hates you. He wants you to know that He also wants you, but loves you, no matter what. All He is asking is for us to keep our love for Him growing, to always be learning about Him by studying His word. Remember that every time you share Him with someone, you are writing it down in His book of memory. He is encouraging all of us to never run out of ink.

  

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

The Greatest Promise

There was a time when giving your word meant something, sealing the deal with a handshake (or in ancient times, a holy kiss) was the promise of follow through and leaving the door open on a hunt shack or even you own house was common because there was an unwritten rule or promise of respect and consideration for another’s property. At one time, there was no need of lawyers or solicitors because contracts were written in the hearts and the promise of both parties stood up to scrutiny. Today however, this is not the case. Brazen thieves walk onto private property with little or no respect for others and break the covenant of trust with their fellow brothers and sisters. Backcountry cabins left open for the safety and comfort of those in need are trashed for no reason and, once again, the covenant of trust is broken.

What has happened to our society? God has come along side of His children on numerous occasions and prepared a covenant with them, with us, and His children have broken the bond of the covenant. In this, you would think that God would start to lock up the gates of Heaven, close the shutters on the windows and close up shop to all who sin and break the Holy Covenant but this is not the case.

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom 3:21-24 NIV

The righteousness is given through the faith in Christ – this is the covenant. All who believe in the Son of God, declare Him as Saviour and ask forgiveness for their sins will receive His grace and forgiveness. This is the covenant of God and with this covenant, He declares that we will know Glory. Do you need a lawyer for this? Do you trust that the Word of God is His bond? His Holy kiss is upon your heart and the covenant is sealed with the blood of Christ, poured out for all His children. This is a bond that you can count on.

This Sunday, we celebrate the covenant of God. We invite you to join us this Sunday either in person or online. Services start at 10:30 MST and can be seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/) or viewed afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

In The Silence

As I sat in complete silence listening to the nothingness during the last snowfall, I got lost in the solitude of being alone. The falling snow muffled the already still atmosphere of the mountain seclusion. Not a noise was heard, not even the snow falling gently on the ground all around me. Lord, what did I do to deserve such a time of complete peace and serenity with my surroundings? Natalie has a habit of humming or singing and, had she been there, the silence would have been broken by her delightful addition but this was a time I needed to hear what God needed me to hear.

 Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help;

I am never alone. At the lowest point in our lives we can rest assured that we are never alone. Our God is with us for now and, thankfully, forever. His love and support is never-ending and forever. This is the message we must rejoice in, celebrate and even shout from the mountaintops. In my Lord, I can be assured, by this covenant, that in all times, good or challenging, He is there to celebrate the achievements or to give strength to overcome. Let us finish off Hebrews 13:5-6;

I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?

I am fearless in all circumstances because even when I am alone, my Father in Heaven is right there. Like a guardian in the darkness, His light shines bright; there is nothing to fear because my God reigns. Any time you feel alone or at your wits end, take time out and call upon the Lord, He is there for you!

This Sunday, we welcome Rev. Glenn Reeder to the pulpit and look forward to what the Lord has laid upon his heart. We invite you to join us this Sunday either in person or online. Services start at 10:30 MST and can be seen live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/) or viewed afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘A SURE HOPE’

Day 1: 1 Peter 1:3, 4 – “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance – an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”

Day 2: Zephaniah 3:17 – “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Day 3: Romans 15:13 – “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Day 4: Psalm 130:6 – “I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.”

Day 5: Galatians 6:9 – “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Day 6: Psalm 25:3 – “No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.”

Day 7: Psalm 65:5 – “You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation